Titleist Players, Hybrid Collection golf bags debut

Titleist announced today the company is launching five new bag models across the stand and hybrid categories.

Let’s dig into the specifics of the the collections, which debut at at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Specifically, the Titleist staffers’ caddies will carry the Titleist Players 4 Plus bags, which feature more storage than the Players 4.

One more note before the details of the five bags, Titleist Hybrid Collection bags are suited for golfers who like to both walk and ride, blending cart and stand bag features.

Titleist Players 4 StaDry

lightweight, waterproof construction

14 percent lighter than the previous model

tour-inspired, low-profile top cuff

four full-length dividers

25 percent increase in strap padding for more comfort while carrying

six pockets, including one dedicated for a rangefinder, one lined for a water bottle and a spacious full-length apparel pocket

2 Comments

Chris Carpenter

Jan 30, 2019 at 12:28 pm

I love the idea of tour players (and their caddies) carrying “everyman” bags. Staff bags are fun advertisements, but they are missing a huge swath of the market they are courting by not showcasing their carry lines on the tournament circuit. I saw Ernie Els’ caddie carrying a stand bag at Crooked Stick for the BMW Championship and it just made so much more sense when I looked at it…and as it stood on its own [legs], I could see the adverts and the make of the bag clearly. The big brands democratize every other part of their lines (clubs, balls, clothes, etc…), but the big miss is the bags. Heck – I wouldn’t even mind seeing ClicGear in the mix out there. I know traditionalists would throw a fit, but the pushers make as much sense as the double strap on a bag (I tried my first backpack strapped bag while playing in college 25 years ago and it was an epiphany…saved my back too). I’m glad to see this might be a thing.

I had the Players 2017/18 model and was always wondering if the straps will hold up over the years. Eventually sold it and moved to a Stuff bag. I see they have new strap buckles which makes me think the old system did not hold up

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We don’t have a ton of information except for the caption from Brendan’s own post

“Check out this sweet new toy! @wilsongolf was awesome enough to let me create a new prototype driving iron and it couldn’t have turned out better!”

It has some similarities to the previous V4 Driving Iron from Wilson by the looks of both the screw and the knurling around the hosel

but the cosmetics and certainly more inline with the new Staff Blades pictured below along with also appearing to have a shorter heel to toe length and a higher overall toe profile:

Whether or not this new driving iron will show up at retail like the Staff blades, it is definitely something to keep an eye out for.

WRX Spotlight: Nikon Coolshot Pro Stabilized laser rangefinder

Pitch: From Nikon: “This state-of-the art golfing laser rangefinder packs the stability of the Coolshot 80’s vibration reduction into an even more streamlined body. The red Oled internal display’s automatic brightness adjustment makes viewing easy in any light, while Hyper Read measurement response time is a speedy 0.3 seconds (approximately) over a range of 7.5-1,090 m. Locked On technology quickly defines overlapping subjects so you’ll be sure of an accurate reading to the flagstick, plus ID Technology gives a guide distance for uphill and downhill courses.”

Our take on the Nikon Coolshot Pro Stabilized laser rangefinder

Nikon has packed the Coolshot Pro Stabilized full of innovative features with a hugely beneficial streamlined profile. But we’ll get around to that a little later, as at the core of this laser rangefinder is its Stabilized Technology.

Whether it’s the conditions, or an inability to keep your hand perfectly steady when shooting your target, the issue of vibration is usually the main problem when it comes to rangefinders. However, with Nikon’s Stabilized Technology, that vibration is reduced by approximately 80 percent. The steadiness of the rangefinder may need to be seen to be believed, but with the Coolshot Pro Stabilized, any issues golfers have with taking a steady shot of their target can expect them to vanish with this rangefinder. More accurate results and likely speedier rounds (yay), what’s not to love?

This lessening of the vibration works in conjunction with Locked On technology, and it’s a powerful combination that creates a premium rangefinder. The Locked On technology in the Coolshot Pro Stabilized allows golfers to home in on their target, without the fear of the rangefinder locking onto the wrong target in the background. A small green circle frames your desired target, making sure that it is giving you the correct distance for your shot, and it’s not only extremely accurate but quick too. The Hyper Read Tech allows users to find the distance they want according to the company in “0.3 seconds – regardless of distance.” A claim that is difficult to dispute.

Another great feature of the Coolshot Pro Stabilized is its ID Technology. This technology takes care of all the incline, slope etc. The rangefinder from Nikon accurately reads the yardage taking into account the downhill or uphill nature of the pin, while the product also lets other competitors know when the ID Technology is off. If you’re competing in an event, a green flashing light indicates that the ID Technology is turned off, making it clear that actual distance is what you’re measuring, and that you’re abiding by all the rules.

Now let’s get down to the size, which makes all of the features we’ve talked about even more impressive. As you can see from our in-hand photos, the Coolshot Pro Stabilized is tiny and weighs just 180g. The advantages of having a small rangefinder are obvious as it can be carried or kept in even the smallest pocket of your bag easily, and the Coolshot Pro Stabilized is also both waterproof and nitrogen-purged to make it fog-proof. The range finder also features six different brightness levels and comes with a sweet 5-year warranty.

At around $450 the Coolshot Pro Stabilized is high-end and not cheap. But with the impressive features and high performance, it’s a product which combined with Nikon’s 5-year warranty justifies that price-tag. If you’re looking for a top-shelf rangefinder, then the Coolshot Pro Stabilized is very unlikely to disappoint.

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